Kitab Us Salaat_Syed Turab Ul Haq

After completion of the Prayer raise the hands up to the chest and supplicate with sincerity and humility After supplicating wipe your hands on your face For a collection of supplications refer to the book ldquoSunnah Supplicationsrdquo (Masnoon Dauen) compiled by the humble author

Note For Sunnah and Voluntary Prayers add a small Surah or equivalent verses after the Surah alFatehah in the third and fourth Cycle (Rakaat) In Non Emphasised Sunnah (Ghair Muakkadah) and Voluntary (Nafil) Prayers read the entire Darood (salutation on the Prophet) and the Dua Masoorah (supplication) in the first Qaadah also and in the beginning of the third Cycle recite the ldquoSanaardquo

Note In congregational Prayer the follower (Muqtadi) should recite only the ldquoSanaardquo in the first Qiyam (standing position) and then remain silent while standing Similarly the follower should remain silent in the Qiyam(s) that follow When rising up from the bow the ldquoImaamrdquo will recite the ldquoTasmeeyrdquo and the follower should recite only the Tahmeed

The Obligatory ( Farz ) Acts in Prayer

An obligatory act is one that cannot be left out from Prayer as it renders the Prayer void There is no expiation for forgetting an obligatory act The only solution is to offer the entire Prayer again

There are seven Obligations in Prayer

1 The ldquoTakbeer-e-Tahreemahrdquo ie pronouncing Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) This is in fact one of the conditions of Prayer but it has such a close relation with the actions of Prayer that it is also considered one of the Obligations of Prayer If any of the conditions of Prayer are absent at the time of pronouncing ldquoTakbeer-e-Tahreemahrdquo the Prayer will become void If the Follower (Muqtadi) pronounces Allah along with the ldquoImaamrdquo but finishes saying Akbar before the ldquoImaamrdquo does then his Prayer will be void If the follower finds the ldquoImaamrdquo in bowing position he must first say the ldquoTakbeer-e-Tahreemahrdquo then again pronounce ldquoTakbeerrdquo and join the ldquoImaamrdquo in bow If a person secures the bow in the first ldquoRakaatrdquo he will get the reward of the ldquoTakbeer Oolardquo

2 Qiyaam (standing upright) is obligatory in Prayer The person must remain standing as long as the Quran is being recited Qiyaam will only be excused if the person cannot stand or is unable to prostrate or the illness may get aggravated or if the pain is unbearable It is not permitted to forego standing due to ordinary fever or bearable pain Its importance can be understood from the fact that if the patient can stand in Prayer with the help of a stick or a servant or by leaning next to a wall it becomes obligatory to do so Further if the patient can stand for a little while it becomes obligatory to stand and say Allahu Akbar and then complete the rest of the Prayer while seated

3 Recitation of Quran It is obligatory to properly pronounce each alphabet and vowel in such a manner that each one becomes distinct from another and to recite it in such a way that the reciter can hear it Just moving the lips does not suffice for recitation Recitation means to recite with a voice loud enough to be heard at least by oneself If there is no noise around (such as rain moving machinery) and yet one cannot hear ones own recitation then it will make the Prayer void It is obligatory to recite one complete verse in the first

two Cycles (Rakaats) of Obligatory (Farz) Prayer and in every Rakaat of Witr and Voluntary (Nafil) Prayers Since the recitation by the ldquoImaamrdquo suffices for all it is prohibited for the follower to recite behind the ldquoImaamrdquo whether the ldquoImaamrdquo is reciting audibly or softly (inaudible to others)

4 Ruku or bowing The minimum requirement for Ruku is to bend at least to the extent that if one extends the hands they would reach the knees The best is to straighten the back horizontally to the ground with the head in line and the hands holding the knees

5 Sujood ie two prostrations in each ldquoRakaatrdquo The essence of prostration is that the forehead and the nose bone must touch the ground Keeping the under portion of one toe of each foot upon the ground is a condition in prostration If the feet are lifted from the ground or if only the tip of the toes touch the ground during the entire prostration the Prayer will become void

6 Qaadah Akhirah or the Last Sitting Position It is obligatory to sit in this position after completing all Cycles (Rakaats) for a period during which one can recite the entire ldquoTashahhudrdquo If one offers Sajdah Sahv (the prostrations upon forgetting an Essential act) it becomes obligatory to again remain seated for the same length of time in which one can recite the entire ldquoTashahhudrdquo

7 Khurooj bisunihi - that is to proclaim Salaam (peace) towards both sides to end and exit from Prayer

It is obligatory to maintain the chronological order in offering Qiyam Ruku Sujood Qirat and Qaadah Akhirah Further it is obligatory to follow the ldquoImaamrdquo in all obligatory matters

The Essentials ( Waajibaat ) of Prayer

A ldquoWajibrdquo is an act that is considered Essential in Prayer Forgetting an Essential renders the Prayer void but there is an expiation for it called the Sajdah Sahv (two prostrations upon forgetting) Abandoning an Essential on purpose will also render the Prayer void for which the only solution is to offer the entire Prayer again

The following are Essentials (Wajibs) in Prayer

bull Pronouncing ldquoAllahu Akbarrdquo for the ldquoTakbeer Tahreemahrdquo bull Reciting the complete Surah alFatehah in the first two Cycles (Rakaats) of the

Obligatory Prayer and in every ldquoRakaatrdquo of other Prayers bull Reciting at least a small Surah or one or two verses which are equal to three

small verses in the first two Cycles (Rakaats) of the Obligatory Prayer and in every ldquoRakaatrdquo of other Prayers

bull Offering the Ruku only once in every ldquoRakaatrdquo bull Offering the Sajdah only twice in every ldquoRakaatrdquo bull Offering the Qawmah (standing upright after the bow) bull Offering the Jalsah (sitting upright between the two prostrations) bull Resting the nose bone and the forehead both together on the ground during

prostration bull Resting the under portion of three toes (big toe and two adjacent toes) of

each foot on the ground during prostration

bull Waiting during Ruku Qawmah Sajdah and Jalsa for at least the period in which one can recite SubhaanAllah once

bull Offering Qaadah Oola - that is to sit after two ldquoRakaatsrdquo in the Prayer that has three or four ldquoRakaatsrdquo

bull Reciting the Tahiyyaat and Tashahhud in both Qaadahs (sitting) bull Not reciting anything after reciting ldquoTashahhudrdquo in the first Qaadah bull Not offering Qaadah after the first ldquoRakaatrdquo and not to offer Qaadah in the

third ldquoRakaatrdquo of any Prayer which has two or four ldquoRakaatsrdquo (Please note Qaadah will be offered at end of third ldquoRakaatrdquo in a Prayer having three ldquoRakaatsrdquo)

bull For the ldquoImaamrdquo to recite the Quran audibly (in the first 2 ldquoRakaatsrdquo only) in the Dawn Sunset and Night Prayers (in congregation) ndash and for Friday and Eid Prayers

bull For the ldquoImaamrdquo not recite the Quran aloud (but only softly) in the Afternoon and Evening Prayers (in congregation)

bull For the followers to remain silent when the ldquoImaamrdquo is reciting the Quran whether audibly or softly

bull For the followers to emulate the ldquoImaamrdquo in all matters except in reciting the Quran

bull Not to have an unnecessary time gap between the offering of two Obligations or between two Essentials or between an Obligation and an Essential Gap is defined as the time in which one can recite Subhaanallah thrice

bull Saying the word Salaam on both sides when offering the Salaam to exit from Prayer

bull Reciting Duae-Qunoot (The supplication in reverence) in the Witr Prayer and to say Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) before this supplication

bull Offering six Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) for the Prayers of the two Eids and to offer ldquoTakbeerrdquo before proceeding to bow in the second ldquoRakaatrdquo of Eid Prayers

bull Offering the Sajdah Tilawat (prostration in Quran recitation) upon reciting a verse having such a command

bull Offering each Obligation and Essential at its proper assigned position bull Offering all the components of Prayer with calm and confidence

Sajdah Sahav

It becomes Essential (Wajib) to offer 2 (additional) prostrations upon forgetting any of the Essential (Wajib) acts or upon repeating any Essential act or upon delaying the offer of an Obligatory (Farz) act Sajdah Sahav is offered in the last Qaadah after reciting the ldquoTashahhudrdquo by first saying the Salaam towards the right shoulder and then offering 2 prostrations after which the entire Qaadah should be completed (including Tahiyyat Tashahhud Durood and Supplication) and ending with Salaam on both sides

If a person remains silent between the recitation of an additional Surah (or equivalent) after having read the Surah alFatehah for a time in which one can recite SubhaanAllah thrice it will become ldquoWajibrdquo to offer Sajdah Sahav In the first Qaadah of the Obligatory (Farz) Essential (Wajib) or Emphasised Sunnah (Muakkadah) Prayers if one recites the following words by mistake - Allahumma Salle Ala Mohammed or Allahumma Salle Ala Syedna - it will become Essential (Wajib) to offer Sajdah Sahav

The Sunnah Acts of Prayer

bull Raising both hands up to the ears while saying the ldquoTakbeer Tahreemahrdquo (Allahu Akbar)

bull Keeping the palms facing the ldquoQiblahrdquo while saying the ldquoTakbeer Tahreemahrdquo bull Keeping the face directed towards the ldquoQiblahrdquo while saying the ldquoTakbeer

Tahreemahrdquo bull Folding the hands below the navel by catching the wrist of the left hand with

the right bull Softly reciting ldquoSanaardquo ldquoTaawuzrdquo and ldquoTasmiyahrdquo and ldquoAameenrdquo after Surah

alFatehah bull Reciting ldquoTasmiyahrdquo softly at the beginning of each ldquoRakaatrdquo bull Announcing ldquoTakbeerrdquo while moving from one position of Prayer to another bull For the ldquoImaamrdquo to pronounce all ldquoTakbeersrdquo ldquoTasmeeyrdquo and ldquoSalaamrdquo as

audibly as required bull Reciting only Surah alFatehah in the third and the fourth Cycle of the

Obligatory Prayer bull Reciting ldquoTasbeehrdquo (Purity) thrice during the bow (Ruku) and in the

prostrations (Sujood) bull Catching hold of the knees while bowing (Ruku) whilst keeping the fingers

wide open bull Whilst in Ruku to keep the legs straightened and the head and the back in a

horizontal line bull For the ldquoImaamrdquo to say the ldquoTasmeeyrdquo while rising up from the bow (Ruku)

and the follower to say ldquoRabbanaa lakal-Hamdrdquo after rising up from the bow bull For a person offering Prayer alone to say both ldquoTasmeeyrdquo and ldquoRabbanaa

lakal-Hamdrdquo upon rising from the bow bull While proceeding for prostration to first place the knees onto the ground

followed by the hands the nose and lastly the forehead bull While getting up from prostration to first lift the forehead then the nose

followed by the hands and lastly the knees bull While in prostration to keep the arms apart from the sides and the belly away

from the thighs bull While in prostration to keep all toes of both feet firmly pressed on the

ground and pointing towards the ldquoQiblahrdquo bull To rise up for the second (or following) Cycle by placing the hands on the

knees and transferring the weight onto the feet bull In between the two prostrations keeping the right foot erect the left foot

spread out and to sit upon it bull While sitting to keep the hands on the thighs with the fingers in their natural

position bull Raising the index finger when reciting ldquoTashahhudrdquo upon reaching the word

ldquolaardquo and to put it down at bring all fingers back to normal position when reaching the word ldquoIllardquo

bull Reciting ldquoDurood Shareefrdquo and any ldquoMasurardquo supplication in the last Qaadah bull Saying ldquoSalaamrdquo first towards the right and then towards the left

The acts listed above are the Sunnah (traditions) of the Holy Prophet ( ) If any of them are missed out by mistake or left out on purpose it will not invalidate the Prayer However it is not permitted to deliberately abandon the Sunnah

Womens Mode of Prayer

Womens Prayer differs from that of men in the following respects-

bull Before beginning Prayer the woman should make sure that (other than her face palms and the soles of her feet) her entire body is properly covered with opaque clothes If she offers Prayer in thin clothes which reveal the colour of the skin or the shine of her hair it will render the Prayer void It is obligatory to also hide the neck ears hair-locks hanging from the head and the wrists

bull If any part of the body (other than her face palms and the soles of her feet) is exposed up to one fourth of its area and she proclaims the ldquoTakbeerrdquo without hiding it then the Prayer will be deemed to have not started at all If one fourth or more of it gets exposed during the Prayer for a time in which Subhaanallah can be recited thrice it will render the Prayer void

bull While saying ldquoTakbeer Tahreemahrdquo (Allahu Akbar) a woman should raise her hands only up to her shoulders (and not up to the ears) and should not take them out of her cloak

bull In the Qiyaam she should place her left palm on the middle of her chest and the right palm over the left

bull While bowing she should only bow a little enough for her hands to touch her knees without holding them The fingers should be kept straight She should stand with her knees slightly bent and her arms close to her body

bull She should perform the prostration with her body drawn together ie she should keep the abdomen joined with the thighs the thighs with the calves the shins with the ground the arms to the sides and the wrists spread on the ground Further instead of keeping the feet upright both feet should be spread out towards the right

bull While in Qaadah instead of keeping the right foot upright both feet should be slid out towards the right with her sitting on the left foot

bull For women praying in a room is better than praying out in the courtyard and praying in a basement is better than praying in a room (Abu Dawud)

What invalidates or breaks the Prayer

The following actions break the Prayer and the Prayer must be offered afresh

bull Talking to anyone on purpose or by mistake bull Saluting anyone or replying to a greeting bull Coughing or clearing the throat without a valid excuse bull Replying to someones sneezing bull Eating or drinking whilst in Prayer bull Turning the chest away from the direction of the ldquoQiblahrdquo without a valid

excuse

bull Crying (or exclaiming) because of some pain or trouble bull Breaking of the ablution bull Reading the Quran while looking at it bull Making a serious mistake in Quran recitation or in the remembrances bull Committing an action with both hands which leads others to believe that the

person is not in Prayer bull Performing an unrelated action thrice in any one position of the Prayer will

invalidate it For example to scratch by lifting the hand once and let it down then again lift up the hand and let it down and then do it a third time - all this whilst in one position would break the Prayer If the hand is lifted just once and the person scratches more than once it will be counted as only one action

bull Clearing the throat without valid excuse or proper reason where at least two syllables are heard (For example Aah) will make the Prayer invalid If there is an excuse (such as bodys urge to clear the throat) or if there is a proper reason (such as to clear his voice or to remind the ldquoImaamrdquo of his mistake or to inform others that one is in Prayer) it would not invalidate the Prayer

Makrooh (DislikedUndesirable) acts during Prayer

bull Playing with ones clothes beard or body bull Wrapping up the clothes eg lifting the clothes from front or behind while

proceeding for prostration bull Letting the clothes hang eg placing a handkerchief or cloak over the head or

shoulder in such a way that their edges are hanging down bull Having sleeves rolled up more than half way beyond the wrists bull Offering the Prayer while in acute need of relieving oneself of stool urine or

needing to break wind bull Gazing upwards or turning the face looking here and there bull Cracking the finger joints or inserting the fingers of one hand into the fingers

of another bull Placing the hand on the waist (This must be avoided even outside Prayer) bull Laying the wrists flat on the ground while in prostration - this rule applies to

men only bull Offering Prayer while someone is facing you bull Yawning purposely during Prayer bull Praying in clothes that have images of living objects on them bull Lifting up the lower garment - ie Shalwar (by folding and inserting its

upper portion) or the pants (by folding its lower end) bull Not tying the buttons of the upper garment thereby exposing the chest bull The presence of an image (of living objects) in the front right left or above

the head of the person offering Prayer bull Offering the bow or prostration or rising from the prostration before the

ldquoImaamrdquo does bull Reciting the Quran in any position except while in Qiyaam (standing) bull Ending the Quran recitation in the bowing position bull Resting the hands on the ground before touching the knees while proceeding

for prostration without a valid reason Similarly raising the knees from the